Roanoke Police hope their latest effort to combat drug sales — and drug-related crimes — will bring a big quality of life improvement to the Melrose-Rugby neighborhood. The Drug Market Initiative results in criminal charges to dealers with violent records, but it also offers a second chance to dealers without such backgrounds. Police say an earlier effort has already improved the quality of life for the Hurt Park neighborhood. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

Police say second-chance offers were presented to six drug dealers this time: five men and one woman. They ranged in age from 20 to 60. Five showed up to agree to it last night. The sixth dealer lost his eligibility because he was in jail in Bedford County.